Equine Facilities
Preventing runoff from equine facilities from entering our streets and storm drains helps protect our waterways from pollution! All sources of pollution, including runoff from equine activities, are prohibited from leaving your property and entering streets or storm drains. Only rainwater is allowed in the streets and storm drains.
Did you know…
-
The waste generated by equine facilities has been found to contain high concentrations of bacteria and this makes it a potentially dangerous contaminant for our waterways.
-
Manure also contains nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, that can fuel the growth of aquatic algae blooms, which can degrade water quality.
-
Releasing pollutants directly or indirectly into the storm drain system is a violation of the County’s Watershed Protection Ordinance (WPO).
What can I do?
-
Manage waste thoughtfully: Proper storage of manure helps to protect water quality. Be sure to locate manure away from drainage sites and cover and berm stockpiles of manure to prevent runoff.
- Use Best Management Practices (BMPs) for your business: BMPs are techniques or controls used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants, such as manure, into the storm drain system. BMPs for the equine industry include composting manure or disposing of it properly.
Want to learn more?
The resources below provide suggested BMPs and further information on how to protect our waterways. Some resources have been translated to multiple languages. Please click the buttons to view available languages:
Know before you go…
Regular cleaning of equine facilities will help to ensure the safety of our waterways and your animals.
If you would like to report a concern about manure management, have questions about our program, or would like additional information call the County Storm Drain Pollution hotline at: 1(888) 846-0800 or e-mail us at watersheds@sdcounty.ca.gov
Thank you for doing your part to protect our waterways!
Popular Services